Clay-Chalkville's Hayden Moore earns top honors on the 2013 Birmingham News All-North/East team

Clay-Chalkville's senior Hayden Moore has already begun his college career as an early enrollee at Cincinnati. He threw for 25 touchdowns and just one interception this season. (Tamika Moore/tmoore@al.com)

CLAY, Alabama – The football could not have been in better hands this season. Clay-Chalkville quarterback Hayden Moore could not have been stingier with the ball.

“He had a great year as a junior but if you look at him this year, he was 26, 27 touchdowns and two interceptions,” Cougars coach Jerry Hood said. “He took care of the ball so much better as a senior.”

He led his Cougars to 540 points this season. No Clay-Chalkville team had ever scored that many points in a single season before. That broke the record that a Moore-led team set in 2012.

Clay-Chalkville senior quarteback Hayden Moore prepares to hand the ball off in the first quarter of the Hewitt-Trussville game at Cougar Stadium this season. Moore completed 63 percent of his passes this year for 1,910 yards. He ran or threw for a combined 32 touchdowns. (Hal Yeager/preps@al.com)

The 2013 Birmingham News North/East Player of the Year led the Cougars to a 10-2 record and a second consecutive Class 6A, Region 7 title. Moore was also selected to the 2013 Birmingham News All-Metro team at quarterback and to the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s Class 6A All-State team as an athlete since he also handles punting duties.

Shades Valley coach Bill Smith, who led the Mounties to their first 10-win season since going 11-3 in 1999 and their first playoff win since 2000 is the North/East Coach of the Year. He was also named the ASWA Class 6A Coach of the Year.

Through his time at Clay-Chalkville, Moore has been in a natural progression. From getting playing time as a sophomore to this year, Moore’s development has been as steady as his demeanor.

Moore is the second consecutive Cougars quarterback to make the all-state team, following Jacob Thomas’ appearance on the list in 2011, and the third since 2006, when Jesse Carroll was an honorable mention.

Hood said Moore easily belongs on that list, especially when he puts up games like the one he had against Pinson Valley in September, passing for four scores and running for three more.

“When he was a sophomore he was pegged behind Jacob to be the next guy,” Hood said. “We knew he was talented, we knew he was a big kid, a great athlete. He’s been a quarterback all his life.

“He makes it look a lot easier than it is. What we’ve done at Clay-Chalkville is spoiled our fans a little bit. He’s the third in a good line of quarterbacks since I’ve been here and he just made it look really easy.”

Moore wanted to be with those guys, but on his own terms.

“I’ve always wanted to make a name for myself at Clay-Chalkville but I wasn’t concerned about being the best that’s ever played quarterback there,” Moore said. “I just wanted to make a name for myself and my team this year and we wanted to do something Clay-Chalkville hasn’t done in a long time.

“I didn’t think about it. I remember watching Jessie Carroll, and Jacob Thomas was a great quarterback, too. I modeled myself after Jessie when he played here, but I wasn’t thinking about it that much. It wasn’t my main goal.”

Moore has already graduated and made his next progression. He enrolled early at Cincinnati, where he will play for former Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville, and is already getting used to the local flavor. The first two days he was there was during the polar vortex and the temperature barely hit zero.

But there was also the first taste of Skyline Chili.

“I thought it was amazing,” Moore said. “I enjoyed it, it was different.”

So far, so good.

“I was down for anything,” Moore said. “The coaches wanted me down here so I could practice for spring. I’m loving it now.”